THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1881. MISTAKEN LIBERALITY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2221, 8 April 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1881. MISTAKEN LIBERALITY.

A few days back we took occasion to refer to the doubtful legality of the voting by the Selwyn County Council of public money for the purchase of recreation reserves. As we believe the opinion of an eminent counsel will be taken on the subject, no more need have been said had it not been for a most remarkable piece of generosity—with other people's money—on the part of the Ashburton County Council. Oar readers will remember that some little time back an Industrial Exhibition was held in Ashburton, which for mismanagement on the part of those having to do with it stands unique. Despite the fact that the committee, inflated beyond measure at having succeeded in capturing for an hour or so a real live Governor, disdained to afford even the common courtesy of free admittance to exhibitors, but levied blackmail upon them every time they entered, they have had to ask for a grant in aid. They have actually had the assurance to go to the County Council, and not only ask but obtain a grant of £l5O out of the public funds —in aid of what ? Nothing but a bazaar on a large scale,- an advertising medium for a number of tradesmen and merchants. Not only so, but a very large proportion of the exhibits which came from Chriatchuroh were exhibited by residents, these having, no business connection with Ashburton at all. Even supposing that it were right or legal to obtain this money, those in favor of it had not even the pretext that it was purely local. That Industrial Exhibitions properly carried out are of benefit as exhibiting the progress of any particular part of the colony, we do not for one moment deny. But we cannot suppose that a mass of exhibits, shot down as it were at random without classification or order, can in any way be said to be either a means of educating the public taste, or enabling one to judge of the progress made by the district. The only feeling induced by a perusal of the catalogues—in which, by the way, a class for agricultural implements comes next to lace and needlework—and by an inspection of the orderly chaos (if we may use such a term), is bewilderment. Again, as we have pointed out, it was not a display of Ashbnrton produce or manufacture in any sense. The local exhibitors were largely in the minority as a whole, and really the only thing that the Exhibition was calculated to bring out in strong relief was the fact that it is now possible, by our railway system, to collect a large quantity of articles of all kinds at a given spot within a very short time. The argument of the great good done by this particular Exhibition, therefore, to our mind, does not hold water, as urged, for a grant of public money. We have not a word to say against the Ashburton Industrial Association getting up an Exhibition two or three times a year ; but we do most strongly object to the public being called upon to pay the piper, and thus enable a few gentlemen dressed in brief authority to strut before the amazed multitude for even a short period. The Industrial Association at Christchurch held a similar Exhibition, but they paid for all expenses out of their funds and carried a handsome balance forward, and this, be it noted, though they did not exact the admission fee from exhibitors, as was done at Ashburton. But had it been the reverse, certainly the Association would have had no right at all to ask the Selwyn County Council to grant them money. The Counties Act is very plain and very precise indeed upon the point of the application of the funds in the hands of the Council. They are to he devoted to public works, ie., roads and bridges, &c, and the more local or domestic expenses, such as the one now referred to, are in no sense allowed under the Act. The County Council is differently constituted to the Provincial Council. There, such a vote as this might have been passed, but we are very much inclined to believe that if this amount is paid over it will have to bo recouped to the county funds. The accounts of the Council have to go under audit, and we very much doubt if the lynx eye of the District Auditor will pass over a vote of £l5O for a gigantic advertising medium. We desire to call the attention of those interested to this matter, so that they may be prepared when the time comes to defend the position they appear to have taken up, that tho County Council can vote a sum of money for this object. If this is allowed wo shall have the Ashburton Racing Club asking for a grant of money for a cup, on the ground that they are developing a local industry in the breeding of race horses. Or perhaps the Amateur Dramatic Club will come for £SO in aid of their funds, on the plea of a local institution for tho development and improvement of local talent. We

might multiply the instances to which this precedent, if allowed, $ might be stretched. Wo have, how- \ ever, said enough to show that this is j not a case in which public money ought t to bo voted. If a few gentlemen get J together and project a scheme to adver- ' tise the wares of their frionds or them- * selves, ultimately blossoming into an \ ecstatic half hour or so with vice royalty, ' they must be prepared to count the cost ' and meet a deficit if it occurs. They ' certainly havo no right to come to any ] public body whatsoever and ask for a t grant of money to cover a deficiency '. mainly caused by their own inflated ! vanity—to use the words of one of their j own most prominent settlors—in expect- i ing to hold a display in " a jumped-up place like Ashburton," at an expense which could only be recognised in the larger cities of the colony. We commend the item of " £l5O, Ashburton Exhibition," in the accounts of the County Council, to the tender mercies of our friend Mr. John Ollivier, the District Auditor, as a decidedly illegal expenditure of public money. MR. CATHCART'S BENEFIT. All playgoers will see with a great degree of pleasure that on Monday evening next an opportunity—which has been long in coming—will be afforded them of testifying their high appreciation of the talents of that artistic and sterling actor, Mr. J. P. Cathcart. During the season here Mr. Cathcart—although not blazing . forth on tho walls in type two feet high | —has won for himself the esteem and t warm admiration of his audiences. The ' characters in which he has appeared have - been throughout played with a care and finish that evinced how thorough and com--1 plete an artist he is, and though no brazen trumpets have been used to herald him forth as the greatest tragedian and actor ' of the age, his sterling merit has won for him a host of friends here. We ' hope that they will show by their attend- " ance on Monday night that they desire to ensure to Mr. Cathcart that in leaving Christchurch he does go with the hearty good wishes of a number of play-goers fcr his future, and a hope that ere long we may see him again on our stage. Of one thing we feel certain —that even had 1 Mr. Cathcart's own merits not given him p the strong claim they do, the affectionate remembrance still cherished here of his i sister, the late Mrs. Darrell, would have c been sufficient to ensure a crowded house. The programme is a varied and attractive one, and we trust to see a large . audience to wish Mr. Cathcart God-speed on his professional tour through the colony.